RAISE Act

August 15, 2017

The Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act, a Congressional bill supported by President Trump, would alter the immigration landscape by drastically reducing legal immigration. Among other things, it would eliminate the Diversity Visa Program and family petitions for adult sons and daughters of US citizens and permanent residents, and those for siblings and parents of US citizens. The cap for the number of refugees admitted each year would also be reduced. The employment-based category would be replaced with a points-based system, similar to Canada’s, making education and English language proficiency important factors in obtaining a visa. However, this bill is unlikely to pass.